Tuesday, 26 August 2003

Controller Wants Who Back

August 26, 2003 • Posted By Shaun Lyon

Lorraine Heggessey, controller of BBC-1, has again expressed her wish to bring back Doctor Who on Saturday evenings, but still insists that there are rights issues preventing such, despite word from the BBC Rights Office (which was noted in a story on BBCi that we mentioned a few days ago). In an article that primarily discussed other BBC programming including the talent show "Fame Academy," Heggessey mentions that the "complex situation surrounding the rights to the small screen character could scupper his return." Says Heggessey, "I would like to resurrect Dr Who but the rights situation is too complicated to do that at the moment. Maybe that will happen one day... Saturday night is still a very special night whether you stay in or go out." The "Doctor Who Initiative," the article says, "is part of Ms Heggessey's plan to overhaul BBC1's Saturday night schedule with more drama, comedy and location-based shows: 'You want to feel like you are having a good time, and if you don't you blame the telly,' she added." The article appeared in the Guardian newspaper and has been widely reprinted.